The European Geothermal Energy Council gives a tepid welcome to the EU Commission’s proposals for the revision of the EU energy framework.

The European Commission unveiled the “Clean Energy Package” including, amongst other things, the revision of the directives on Renewable Energy (2009/28/EC), the Energy Performance of Buildings (2010/31/EU), Energy Efficiency (2012/27/EU), and the electricity market design.

The package is by no means a great leap forward. It lacks ambition and deals serious blows to renewable power, by basically withdrawing measures such as priority dispatch. Moreover, the current proposal suppresses the EU-wide definition of “geothermal”, which is a negative step backwards for the European market in geothermal-related equipment and services.

The Commission states a strong support to increasing the share of renewables in the building and the heating and cooling sectors; yet it shies away from binding measures for faster development. Even worse, loopholes under energy efficiency legislation still allow support to new fossil-based heating equipment. EGEC therefore urges the European Parliament and the Council to build on this package to put the European Union back on track towards its commitment to becoming the world number one in renewable energy.

In the context of the worldwide paradigm shift in climate change, the EU has a unique opportunity to reposition itself as the world leader in climate action. Despite steps to increase the share of renewables in the heating sector, the Commission proposal does not remove the regulatory loopholes supporting new fossil fuel installations.

* Correction: regarding the new leadership at GEODEEP, the General Director for Export is Sylvain Brogle from Clemessy, while Erwan Bourdon from CFG Services will serve as a Deputy General Director for Export.

Inside:

Editorial

A word from the EGEC President

Policy

EU Commission to propose review of energy legislation on November 30th

How to develop support schemes for Renewable Heating and Cooling

News

#renEUable Initiative

New leadership at the French geothermal cluster GEODEEP

State aid: EC approves Greek support scheme for renewable electricity and cogeneration

The FROnT project is publishing today a paper with strategic policy recommendations to support the deployment of renewable heating and cooling technologies (RES-HC). It starts with analysing the main barriers that are currently hampering the deployment of renewable heating and cooling technologies and proposes a set of policy recommendations for EU, national and local policy-makers to overcome these barriers.

The heating and cooling sector represents almost 50% of our energy consumption and is therefore key to decarbonise our entire energy system. RES-HC such as geothermal, solar thermal, biomass and heat pumps are today mature and available options to replace fossil fuels. However, important barriers remain, and multiple policy instruments are necessary for addressing the impediments that are preventing the uptake of renewable energy technologies.

Andrew Standley, Head of the European Union Delegation to Mexico, and Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Mexico’s Energy Secretary, officially inaugurated the GEMex project on November 17, in Morelia, Michoacan.

GEMex (Cooperation in Geothermal energy research Europe-Mexico for development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems and Superhot Geothermal Systems) brings together partners from Europe and Mexico to develop innovative methods for accessing geothermal resources in variable geological formations. The ultimate objective is to reduce costs for both geothermal electricity and heat production.

The 36-month project will adhere to the strictest environmental standards and address issues around social acceptance of the technology. Research will be made in Los Humeros and Acoculco geothermal fields in the State of Puebla, Mexico.

EGEC, partner of the project, will be informing European industry stakeholders over the results of the project and export opportunities for European companies in the growing Mexican market, liberalised in 2014. EGEC is also in charge of developing an action plan for strengthening EU-Mexico’s cooperation on geothermal energy within and beyond the project.

The project is made possible thanks to contributions from the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and Mexico’s Fondo de Sustenibilidad Energética (SENER) – Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).